Residential Collection

The Sanitation Department services over 76,000 private household accounts. We use one-man fully automated trucks to pick up the provided alley or curbside containers. The city is divided into 31 residential routes that are serviced by the Department.

Approximately 40% of the city's trash collection consists of alley service. Generally 300-gallon containers are placed in the alleys for use by three to four homes. If the container closest to your home is full, you may use other containers on the alley. If this is not possible please hold your refuse until the containers have been dumped. Never place trash or other refuse around the containers.

By city ordinance (Sec. 27-471), customers may place both trash and recycling containers at the curb by 7 p.m. the night before collection or by 7 a.m. on the customer's designated trash or recycling day, including 90-gallon automated containers. Containers must be moved from the street and placed by the side or rear of the customer's residence by 7 p.m. the same day following collection.

Starting Service

Residential trash and bi-weekly recycling collections are billed on a customer's monthly water statements. In order to become a customer, you will need to sign up for service through the city's Utility Billing and Collections department. Once you have signed up for service, the Sanitation Department will deliver a blue recycling cart to your single-family or multi-unit (up to 4) address.

Customers will be billed $2.95 per month for residential recycling collection whether or not the service is used. Customers should be aware that nonpayment of the monthly recycling fee will force the customer's account into deliquency and water service to be turned off.

The city has adopted new billing procedures that affect the appearance of your utility statement, specifically the Garbage Disposal and Residential Recycling fees. Both fees have been combined so customers will see one line item, instead of two. The billing change is designed to increase efficiency. Learn about the new procedures in Important Changes to Your Utility Bill.

Tub Out Service

To accommodate persons with disabilities or those unable to maneuver large trash or recycling containers to the street, the Sanitation Department offers a Tub Out service at no additional charge. An approved Tub Out application form, including certification from a medical provider, is necessary to qualify for the service.

Under the Tub Out program, Sanitation employees collect the container from its current location on a customer’s property, dump it and return it to its original location.

Currently enrolled Tub Out customers who wish to participate in Residential Recycling will automatically receive Tub Out curbside recycling collection. New customers wishing to participate in the Tub Out program will need to apply for the service and submit certification from a qualified medical provider.

"Put a lid on it" - Container Repair

Keep trash dry during the rainy season. The rainy season in St. Petersburg runs between June 1 and October 31. Please call our Container Maintenance division at 893-7398 if your container lid needs to be repaired. If your container is leaking, contact Sanitation Department Customer Service at 727-893-7398, Monday through Friday, between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to report it.

Before and After Major Storms

The rainy season includes the possibility of a tropical storm or hurricane occurring in our area. Before any weather emergency, citizens are requested to secure loose items around their property as well as pick up loose or stray limbs or debris that might pose potential hazards during a storm. Once the storm threat has passed and cleanup begins, the city encourages citizens to work with the Sanitation Department as they begin Picking Up the Pieces.

Residential Recycling

The Residential Recycling Program is a single stream (all recyclables in one container) program for all single family and multi-unit locations with 1-4 units that began on June 29, 2015. Recycling collections will occur on a designated day every other week.

Alley collection of recyclables began on Monday, January 25, 2016, for customers who currently have trash collection in the alley. Collection of recycling, either alley or at the curb, will continue to occur on your designated recycling day.

Sanitation customers were mailed 2017 recycling calendars in the mail around the middle of December.

Until then, customers are encouraged to keep track of their recycling collection days by printing a personalized zone calendar or using the free St. Pete Collects mobile app.

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